121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 1657
		Resolve, Directing the Department of Education To Amend Its Rules Regarding Child Development Services for Children of Kindergarten Age Who Are Not Attending Kindergarten
		LR 2480(01)
		Fiscal Note for Original Bill
		Sponsor: Rep. Thomas of Orono
		Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill will result in increased General Fund costs to the Department of Education beginning in fiscal year 2004-05  It shifts the costs of providing special education services to children of kindergarten age from the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program to the Child Development Services program if parents of these children choose to not have them attend kindergarten until they reach age 6.  Since the cost of providing special education services to children attending school is shared between the State and local school units and the cost of providing special education services to children of kindergarten age not attending school would be funded only by the State, there would be a net increase in costs to the State.  The net impact to the State can not be determined at this time and will depend on the number of children of kindergarten age who require special education services and whose parents choose not to have them attend kindergarten until age 6.  The amount of savings to the local school units can not be determined at this time.